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DanRyb Author

Level 1

12 points

MacBook Air 11" Screen "Flicker" and Freeze

Hi everyone,

I ordered a MacBook Air 11" with 1.6 GHz, 4GB ram and 128GB SSD. Every so often while using it, the screen has a ton of weird colors in vertical lines (extends the whole display) and the entire laptop has frozen. I have to force it off with the power button and reboot it. It happens at random times. Is this a symptom of overheating perhaps?
I've done some research online and can't seem to find anyone else experiencing the same issue so I'm thinking I got a bad apple. (;

Before I take it in or send it in, I'm more or less wondering if someone knows what I'm talking about, like having happened on another model Mac and knows if it's due to overheating or something. Thanks!

MacBook Air 11", Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 28, 2010 11:32 AM

170 replies

SunRU

Level 1

0 points

Sep 9, 2011 8:13 PM in response to DanRyb

Ok... just went through this issue. Using an older Samsung 215tw, mini displayport to dvi adapter, and dvi-d cable. Monitor was working fine on different pc. When i connected 2010 MBA 11 to monitor with DVI-D cable, display was detected (in hardware list), but would not display anything. Issue turned out to be the cable. If you use the DVI-D cable on the older monitor with the adapter... display had issues. Switched to older dvi cable which had fewer pins, monitor worked fine on the MBA. The newer cable worked ok on pc with newer monitor. Not sure if this is really an apple issue... hope this helps someone,

Dec 6, 2011 9:38 AM in response to sublimespot

I take it back, the issue persists on Lion for me. It really ***** to have to deal with this for such an expensive machine.

Jan 3, 2012 12:44 PM in response to sublimespot

Hey Sublimespot. Are you still having this flickering issue?
I have the same thing when the laptop first boots up. Flickers mad for about 2 minutes then stops....

Then randonly flickers after use of the macbook for a bit...

Unlucky for me my macbooks gone out of warranty as I have other screen issues too.

Guess what... The Apple manager at birmingham basically said I suck and they aint fixing nothing. Even though its less than 60 days out of warranty and it is a known issue by Apple... How much does that suck!

Just wondered if you still had the issue and if your still in warranty or not?

Jan 3, 2012 1:10 PM in response to jttaylor88

Yes my screen is flickering periodically as I'm typing this now on an external monitor. It has been freezing about every other day or so (when connected to an external monitor). I'm about 1 month out of warranty.

Jan 3, 2012 1:23 PM in response to sublimespot

Have you been to see Apple about it?
I sent an email to Trading Standards yesturday after my discusting treatment in the Apple Store. Not mentioning the managers name but awfull service. For a £1200 machine to go faulty just out of warranty then telling me I have to pay 40% of the cost of the machine to fix it is a joke....

Jan 3, 2012 5:40 PM in response to jttaylor88

No, I was going to have the motherboard replaced soon before expiring the warranty but life got busy and I forgot.

The problem only manifests itself when plugged into an external monitor, so the machine is not completely useless. Though it is the 10 inch model which makes getting work done difficult. Sorry to hear of your trouble as well.

Mar 7, 2012 7:18 AM in response to Xallarap

Hello all. Just to report that I also have the flickering issue in my MacBook Air 11 from late 2010.

I am running 10.7.3.

In my case is a kind of ripples when booting and in some applications windows. It is not strong nor constant.

I have also noticed that it does it as well after a sleeping period.

I have Apple Care and I am going to try to use it, but since the effet is not strong and not constant I am afraid that Apple can also say that I have no problem at all.

I called yesterday to Apple Care by phone and they told me that there is not any known issue with Macbook Air's displays...

Mar 7, 2012 7:20 AM in response to yelmopedriza

yelmopedriza, is it only when using an external monitor, or just on it's own? Is your model the 10inch or the 13?

Mar 8, 2012 12:15 AM in response to sublimespot

Sublimespot, mine is 11" as I said in my previous post.

Regarding the ripples, they appear in the laptop screen.

I have never tried to plug an external monitor.

I have one monitor somewhere, I can make the test if someone find it useful.

Mar 15, 2012 8:37 AM in response to yelmopedriza

Since I had Apple Care I took the computer to my local Apple reseller and I got it repeared in two days.

They changed the screen. This solved my "ripples" problem, which was however a very faint pattern.

jasonq

Level 1

0 points

Jun 1, 2012 11:10 AM in response to klamath92

I just want to add that this also fixed the problem for me on my late 2010 11" MBA - even under high load.

VGA = flicker/wobbling/rippling

DVI = perfect

Same 23" monitor in both cases.

essnchen

Level 1

0 points

Jan 17, 2013 5:00 PM in response to DanRyb

I purchased the iphone 4, I feel pretty good in 2010/9
In November of the same year, I bought a mac air 13
iphone sometimes the screen does not open up and has been shock
This is okay, reset the power can be
But the mac air .......
mac air only original one-year warranty
However, more than a year, the right side of the screen 1/4 flicker
More than two years, wronged continue to use, or has no reuse
For maintenance will feel valuable?
I purchased the laptop from 2003 to 2010. Bought a total of two, there are very expensive laptop

Each computer can be used for at least five years.

Of course, companies provide laptops to work for me, this is just home useSecond one 2006/4 bought, the battery has no electricity now, and are also connected to the TV usage.
2010/9 buy mac air only use for more than a year, on the hardware on the serious problems.
For maintenance will feel valuable??? I dont think so. I give up and really feel very bad / uncomfortable.
Now im looking for next laptop, second source. Im promise "No more again".

bausi

Level 1

23 points

Feb 13, 2013 1:25 AM in response to jasonq

hi,

having the same problem - the mba 11" display seems not to flicker but the external 22" vga screen does whicht drives me crazy!

has anybody fixed the problem with switching to DVI instead?

cheers.kg

bausi

Level 1

23 points

Mar 8, 2013 1:06 AM in response to bausi

DVI saved the issue for me! -> done!

kev13nyc

Level 1

4 points

Apr 9, 2013 9:01 AM in response to DanRyb

i've got DVI connected to a bookends docking station with 2 moitors. both DVI. screen flickers throught the day. running bootcamp on the MBA. any suggestions on getting rid of the flickering?

MacBook Air 11" Screen "Flicker" and Freeze